New PCz0r! :)

[Scouse]

So, I'm on the lookout for a few upgrades. Thinking of putting together a Phenom II X3 720 BE rig on an AM3 Mainboard. I've got a Radeon 4850 to handle the graphics already.

So far I've settled only on two things (by "settled" read "open to recommendations"):

CPU: Phenom II X3 720 BE ~ £105ish Heard it's a nice overclocker.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P ~ £100ish

I want 6 or 8 Gig of RAM in the thang but want a recommendation on decent 1600Mhz DDR3 stuff that has heatsinks that aren't hewuge (I've read that CPU fan can obstruct memory bays). Fewer sticks the better too (rather go with 2x4Gb but I haven't seen any).

Talking of CPU fans I'm open to recommendations there too. Want something quiet but efficient. Unless the retail box cpu comes with one?

I'm sick of HDD's failing so I was gonna grab a 500Gb one from a reliable manufacturer. Anyone I should avoid?

Lastly, power supplies. Not complete overkill, but solid with plenty of juice, quiet too


I'm hoping to order it so it'll be here by Friday, so I guess that's before 1:30 tomorrow (I'm out after that). Any suggestions are more than welcome - whether it's system suggestions or best places to order from. Ta!

 

[Moriath]

i would go for a quad or duo intel chip rather than amd .. there chips dont keep pace atm

ofc with a mobo to match

cpu i never had a problem with seagate so a 500 -1tb seagate baracuda would do you

i love my corsair 650watt psu

never put a step wrong with all the configs i had

not got much xp with ram so leave that to someone else.

 

[Kryten]

The phenoms are nice overclockers indeed, there's a bit of luck involved but it's rare you'll find a particularly bad one. In my opinion, the AMDs/AM3 platform are a safer bet for futureproofing as you're not limited to the frankly ridiculous multi-socket scheme Intel are playing with. AMD learned their lesson with the socket 754/939 debacle and I'm surprised the Intel folks haven't. The I7's will outperform them at stock but there's not a huge amount in it, especially when you start comparing prices.

PSUs, stick with the usual suspects (corsair/seasonic, enermax, tagan etc) and give it as much juice as you can afford. 620w would be a sensible figure but go higher if you're looking to slap in anything more graphics wise in the future.

RAM - swings and roundabouts and can't really comment on which is going to serve better, but again I'd probably side with Corsair's kit.

Cooling: take a look at the latest Scythe model if your case will accommodate it, they'll work on all the new Intel and AMD kit and keep it quite happy even in this weather.

 

[Scouse]

OK. Sorted on HDD, CPU, M/B, RAM.

Still open to suggestions for good PSU's and CPU coolers. Thinking this for PSU tho. Overkill?

 

[Scouse]

Fuck it. Ordered

Retail CPU comes with a cooler. If it's shit I can swap it out some other time.

 

[Kryten]

Excellent stuff, let us know how it goes.

Been a while since I've said "go and buy yourself some AMD stuff" but it's a better long term investment for price and performance.

 

[Scouse]

I agree. The X4 955 is up there with the core 2 quad's and this one will overclock to give near-as-damnit identical performance in games, and none too shabby elsewhere.

They're also keeping the same socket type for any processor releases in the forseeable future so that's comforting.

If I struggle for framerate in the future I can buy another 4850 and crossfire it, but as I cba with resolutions above 1680x1050 I should be laughing.

My current P4 540 jobby's struggling to pound out 20fps in L4d...

 

[Aada]

I agree. The X4 955 is up there with the core 2 quad's and this one will overclock to give near-as-damnit identical performance in games, and none too shabby elsewhere.

They're also keeping the same socket type for any processor releases in the forseeable future so that's comforting.

If I struggle for framerate in the future I can buy another 4850 and crossfire it, but as I cba with resolutions above 1680x1050 I should be laughing.

My current P4 540 jobby's struggling to pound out 20fps in L4d...

Don't you just love knowing you'll be able to play all those old gamers with better framerate and looks?

That's what i love about a new PC lol.

 

[Bahumat]

Fuck it. Ordered

Retail CPU comes with a cooler. If it's shit I can swap it out some other time.

Heya,

When I upgraded (around a year ago) I got myself the Intel Q6600 quad core. I used the stock fan and in the summer (whilst idle) the temperature was getting quite high (think around 50). Under stress it went to 60+.

I ordered an Arctic cooler 7 and it dropped the idle temperature to 40 (even in the summer) and under strain it was about 50.

download a program called Coretemp. It can be left running whilst you play a game and it records your CPU temperature on all cores. After you've finished, you can close the program and it creates a notepad file which tells you your temps etc. I would use this program and see what temps you get. If they are quite high, make a post and see what coolers people recommend.

Like I say, my arctic cooler 7 is amazing and cost £23! However AMD may use a different type and there may be a new super awesome heatsink available

 

[DaGaffer]

Thanks for that. I've been experiencing locking issues with my 4870 and I'm beginning to think it may be temperature-related (at least I hope it is and not something more terminal), so I'll give that program a go.

 

[Bahumat]

Thanks for that. I've been experiencing locking issues with my 4870 and I'm beginning to think it may be temperature-related (at least I hope it is and not something more terminal), so I'll give that program a go.

Hopefully it helps locate the problem I know you probably know this, but Coretemp only displays the CPU temp, not the Graphics Card temp. I think there is another program for that?

Edit:- There are test programs (cant remember names) that push your graphics card harder than if it were running Crysis on max settings. It can be used to see if the graphics card struggles at higher temperatures etc. That may also be worth trying.

 

[Scouse]

Don't you just love knowing you'll be able to play all those old gamers with better framerate and looks?

That's what i love about a new PC lol.

I hear ya, but games isn't a good enough reason to get me to upgrade (it'll be the first PC I've bought since 2001 and, technically, the first PC I've paid for since 1994).

Need to run a load of VM's and do a lot of multitasking in the near future - so an upgrade was a necessity.

I still kick ass at 20fps

 

[Scouse]

Pushing anywhere between 80-140fps in L4D now btw

 

[TdC]

haha awesome upgrade result then

how do you see the fps in L4D btw?

 

[nath]

Pull down the console - net_graph 1






noob.

 

[TdC]

it has a console?

 

[nath]

Good grief :\.


On the off chance that you were serious - pop to keyboard options>advanced settings>enable developer console. ` key opens the console as usual.

 

[TdC]

haha zing!

 

[nath]

Curses!

 

[dysfunction]

hehehehe

 

[TdC]

though I am saddened you feel my level of noobity could actually be that acute

 

[nath]

though I am saddened you feel my level of noobity could actually be that acute

Well I have played a few matches with you....

 

[TdC]

the fact that I act like a noob doesn't mean I actually am one! though tbh that was the first time I played L4F online, like evar

 

[nath]

Well you've had it a while now, we'll have to have another game and you'll have no excuse this time .

 

[TdC]

ooh I feel all tingly inside!

but wait! Damini wants me to play with her too! erm, TF2 that is. we'll have to arrange some kind of tdc-sharing schedule o0

 

[nath]

I could go for some TF2 also, unless Dams has an unreasonable objection to a threesome.

 

[TdC]

I had it preloaded, and a three day invite from Dams in my emailz, but you understand she gets to use me first, as it is her invite that is gracing me with exposure to the game

 

[nath]

You mean you've never played TF2? Oy vey.

What about Portal, don't tell me you've never tried that.

 

[TdC]

TF2, no, sorry. Portal, though, you bet. I pwned at that. The nice computer voice was very impressed....until I killed it. *cackle*

 

[nath]

Well make sure you download all the "Meet the <class>" vids, they're Pixar levels of awesome.